Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Marine Biology

16 Ranked Colleges
80 Degrees Awarded
$29,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 1,914 people earned their degree in marine biology, making the major the 288th most popular in the United States.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 80 marine biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in marine biology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality marine biology programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the marine biology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The biological oceanography school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate

The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree biological oceanography students.

Top 18 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Marine Biology

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate. Located in College Station, Texas, this large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified doctorate’s biological oceanography students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Marine Biology Report

#2

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Georgia. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate. University of Georgia is a public institution located in Athens, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UGA also made our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Georgia are $27,476.

Read full report on Marine Biology at UGA

#3

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeastern University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate list. Northeastern University is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 5 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558.

Read full report on Marine Biology at Northeastern University

#4

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Princess Anne, Maryland
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maryland Eastern Shore landed the #4 spot on the list. UMES is located in Princess Anne, Maryland and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

UMES also made our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMES are $16,978.

Read more about Marine Biology at University of Maryland Eastern Shore

#5

University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, Mississippi
#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern Mississippi. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

Southern Miss also took the #16 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern Mississippi are $10,896.

Full University of Southern Mississippi Marine Biology Report

#15 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Texas A&M Corpus Christi is a fairly large public school situated in Corpus Christi, Texas. It awarded 3 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Corpus Christi are $15,683, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Marine Biology at Texas A&M Corpus Christi

#7 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified doctorate’s biological oceanography students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631.

Full University of California - San Diego Marine Biology Report

#8

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#4 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate ranking. University of California - Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

UCSB also made our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Marine Biology Report

#15 in overall quality

University of Maryland - Baltimore County ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Maryland - Baltimore County is a fairly large school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 1 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2019-2020.

UMBC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - Baltimore County are $21,078, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Marine Biology at UMBC

#9

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
#12 in overall quality

University of South Carolina - Columbia came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate ranking. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree biological oceanography students list, UofSC has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Carolina - Columbia are $30,160, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Marine Biology at UofSC

#10

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina
#14 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Wilmington ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s biological oceanography students in 2019-2020.

UNCW also made our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNCW are $21,286, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of North Carolina at Wilmington Marine Biology Report

#11

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
#6 in overall quality

William & Mary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified doctorate’s biological oceanography students in 2019-2020.

William & Mary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at William & Mary are $34,800, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Marine Biology at William & Mary

#12

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii
#10 in overall quality

University of Hawaii at Manoa came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate ranking. UH Manoa is a fairly large school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 9 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree biological oceanography students list, UH Manoa has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UH Manoa are $34,550.

Read full report on Marine Biology at UH Manoa

#13

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware
#11 in overall quality

University of Delaware ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Delaware is a large school located in Newark, Delaware that handed out 5 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UD, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Delaware are $35,192, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UD Marine Biology Report

#13

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska
#17 in overall quality

University of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate ranking. University of Alaska Fairbanks is located in Fairbanks, Alaska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

UAF also took the #17 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Alaska Fairbanks are $24,287.

Full UAF Marine Biology Report

#14

University of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida
#9 in overall quality

University of Miami ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Miami is located in Coral Gables, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

U Miami not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Miami are $40,220, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Marine Biology at University of Miami

#15

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s biological oceanography students in 2019-2020.

USC also made our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715.

Read full report on Marine Biology at University of Southern California

#16

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

Duke University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2019-2020.

Duke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Marine Biology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke are $59,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Marine Biology at Duke University

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

Featured Biology Schools

Find Schools Near You